Should DOT mandate 68mph speed limiters?

Why would you make such assumptions?

Here...beat up on me for awhile.

Do you have any idea why this proposal is being called for? People within this industry are sick and tired of the image portrayed by some behind the wheels of big trucks, and more specifically the cowboys, who think it's fun to scare the wits out of Granny and her Grandchildren by tailgating them incessently.

While you may not desire more intrusion into your business, that's exactly what is going to happen. Because people REFUSE to restrain themselves and act professionally, factions of the industry are attempting to police it from the inside.

Now I know that EVERY driver that drives a truck capable of attaining speeds higher than others, keeps the pedal down all the time, but look at how many we see on a daily basis that appear to do that very thing.

I speak for no one but myself, but I personally feel that a truck traveling in excess of 65-70 mph is absolutely unstable. I see too many drivers traveling at speeds faster than that, that have serious lane control problems. In many of the states I travel in, the roads are not maintained to a point where speeds these high are safe to travel at high speeds.

Education hasn't worked. Safety training hasn't worked. Stepped up enforcement doesn't have a chance, as long as the CB will let those that want to fly find the bears before they find the speeders. Attempting to weed out habitual violators hasn't really done a great job of getting the job done either. Sympathetic judges sidestep the laws that are supposed to make drivers think twice about excessive speeding, because they don't like to see people out of a job.

So what is the answer? If you can't change human behavior, then limit the ability of the machinery.

It's always the few bad apples that make us all stink. I drive a truck that is limited to 68 mph, and I generally keep it at speeds lower than that. I get where i am going on time, every time. I don't lose any production by traveling at those lower speeds. I don't endure a great deal of stress. I am not keyed up all the time. I don't find myself having to weave in and out of traffic, or looking for a hole to slip in to pass others all the time. I ride and glide.

And finally, to ANYONE that feels that the only way they can make money is by traveling at 75 mph to do it, I have one thought on that...

Maybe you ought to look for a better job.

If you own your truck, and you drive it in that manner, then you're not using your noodle. The wear and tear at those speeds is horrible, and you can overcome any perceived profit losses through fuel savings at lower speeds.

I know this to be true, because I've been there and done that. In a documented test for a period that went six months, I put an average of $70 per week more in my pocket, and my truck never broke the 55 mph mark. I'm not suggesting that 55 mph is where we ought to be, but I sure know that 75-80 mph isn't cool, safe, or sane either.

Most of you folks have families. I think that just about all of you like to see them from time to time. Ask yourself a question when you have that truck maxed out. If something goes wrong, like another vehicle swerving into my lane, or if I blow a steering tire...can I keep this truck and trailer under control? At 65-68 mph, you just might be able to. At 75-80 mph, you haven't got a chance in ####.

And for the record, I'm as sick of those limited trucks that fly into cities and the construction zones too. I'm in favor of a mandatory $1,000 fine for excessive speed (15 mph or more) ANYTIME and ANYWHERE.

Georgia is pushing legislation as I write this and it is expected to pass, that would impose an added $200 mandatory fine that would be paid to a separate state department, on top of the fine structure as it stands now, for any driver convicted of being written a ticket for exceeding 85 mph on ANY road within the state, and in excess of 75 mph on any two lane road within the state.

Drivers found to have existing points violations on their licenses would incur a $100 - $200 fine for ANY speeding violation as well. Those traveling around Atlanta would be specifically targeted.

Look for more of this type of legislation to come about in other areas of the country where speeding is out of control.

 

Yeah...it would be aggravating as can be. It would force drivers to learn to follow, rather than to attempt to lead all the time. I deal with this kind of thing all the time, because there are a lot of trucks out there limited to about the same speed I can travel.

What I do is to set my speed at 65 mph, so that I have a little extra speed available to pass, if I come upon a slower moving vehicle. If I see that I have the advantage both on the level and the uphill, I will pass. If I see that the truck in front of me will pull ahead on level ground, I will not pass, that is unless there is an extremely long upgrade and holding back would go on for more than a minute or so. In that case, I see no reason why they cannot pass me again.

 

According to Bridgestone Tire, their all-position tires are structured to withstand sustained speeds of 75 mph in perfect condition, but of course if the tire has had ANY damage to the structure, such as what would occur if the tire is curbed, or has been run up and over a curb or other unnatural object that would compromise the belting or sidewall, that would be reduced substantially.

My worry level is directly related to my gross weight, the ambient temperature, and how old that tire is. Common sense tells me that if the tire is more than a year old, is worn down quite a bit, and if I am loaded heavy on a hot day, I have an increased risk of tire failure.

Those tires, as well as they are made, are only as strong as it's weakest point. Rarely is there any warning or signs that the tire is in danger of failing.

There would be no way that I would drive a fully loaded truck at speeds at or above 70 mph, even though steering tire failure is very rare. Why do I say that? Because the tire may be perfect, but someone may lose a little piece of metal in the middle of the night that slices that tire wide open, and here I come along and POW!!!....

I consider it a huge mistake to have ever raised the speed limit to 75 mph as has been the case in some states, and they NEVER should have raised it for trucks.

On Thursday, and on I-39, I saw a Peterbilt lose...YES LOSE...his left front steering tire. I came completely off the rim, went across from the south side to the north side, and beyond into a corn field. He coasted to a stop on his left front rim, which was ruined of course. Now at what was probably 60 mph or so, he was able to do this. But what if he had been out in Wyoming and had been going 80 mph? I don't think he would be celebrating the fact that his fender was not damaged because the tire left the wheel.

Cybergal would be posting a newsclip on the resultant wreck that closed the Interstate when the truck and trailer crossed over and hit another truck head-on.

 

Do tell....

Ooops...I may qualify as one of those advocates. I absolutely advocate safety, responsibility, and the ideal that we all should use a little of our brain power. And of course, let's not forget about courtesy.

No one is proposing that you DO 55 mph. We also used to haul for much less than we do now, and we did it under a mandatory 55 mph speed limit.

I'm ready. I wish they would do it.

Yes, 4-wheelers have been statistically proven to be at fault in approximately 75% of the accidents involving big trucks, but that doesn't translate into exempting us from the law of physics or giving us a green light to travel at speeds that are dangerous. Higher speeds are dangerous simply because if one of those 4-wheelers inadvertantly targets YOU tomorrow with their idiocy or whatever, the physics of the truck will prevent you from maintaining control.

We've all heard about the Ford Explorer issues. Firestone and Ford took a bath based on a few accidents that probably were born out of irresponsible driving, and paid through the nose for rollover accidents. That was half the story. High speeds combined with the high center of gravity, and underinflated tires were all factors in those crashes.

I had a '99 4X4 Explorer, and Ford paid for two sets of tires for mine. They replaced the recalled Firestone brand with another set of Firestones, and then two months later, put a set of Goodyears on my vehicle at no charge.

That's good advice, but virgin tires will blow too. Rarely, but they will blow if there is structural damage to the tire.

I seriously doubt that the fact that we drive at higher speeds, that any realized increase in the GDP can be offered because of that. Any increase in revenue realized because trucks go faster is eaten up in wear and tear on the vehicle(s) and the loss in fuel economy.

This is hardly a socialist or liberal issue. Over the years, I have had very little luck in convincing people that like to roar down the highway that it's not in their best interest to do so.

 

ALL opinions are welcome and all members will respect each other's opinions.

That's a simple rule we have here.

 

That's a hoot. When people ride on your hiney and start flashing those high beams, it means plain and simple..."Get outta my way you idiot!!! My agenda is more important than yours, and if you don't move, I'm gonna do something really stupid and childish like swerve my car or truck over to scare you, or flip you the bird."

However, if those people that think they OWN those left and middle lanes, because they consider them the "fast lanes", would slow to the speed limit rather than to set whatever pace they feel SHOULD be the flow of traffic, then life would be much more pleasant for all.

Fair enough. I've seen examples of what you say. In some places, if there were 100 lanes, there would be 100 vehicles side by side, traveling at the same speed. Everyone wants to NOT have something in front of them. It's that simple. And for some strange reason, those that will tolerate following someone, will do it with only inches between the car in front of them.

<sigh>

 

"States Shud Pay for Lower Trk Speed Limits", states do control max trk speeds, guess if not govd down to 68 mph dont have to do, but ya know where we are going, dont ya?!!

 

Welcome back,Turbo. Glad you are doing better. Flashing high beams can mean different things to different people,but the main message is simple,MOVE OVER SO I CAN PASS. If the vehicle has room to move over,than why not do it,instead of going nearly the same speed as the vehicle in the next lane? The left lane is not a fast or slow lane. It is a passing lane. If someone is driving the speed limit and not passing anyone in the right then they should be in the right lane. If the offending vehicle doesn't move over the faster traffic will go around on the right,which is more dangerous than passing on the left. Why not prevent this situation in the first place by keeping right when not passing?